Type-writing machine



(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1.

w. S..-SGUDDER.- TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 457,673. Patented Aug. 11, 1891.

FIE-l- Ill Illllll WITNESSES: INVENTOR Ja ua- ATTORNEY$I (No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. S. SGUDDER. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

.No. 457,673. Patented Aug. 11, 1891.

-State of New York, have invented new and UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILBUR s. sounnnn, or SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITINGMACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 457,673, dated AugustI1, 1891.

Application filed November 1, 1886. Serial No. 217,738- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILBUR S. SCUDDER, of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga, in the useful Improvements in Type-Writers, of which thefollowing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the class of typewriters known aslever-machines, in which a key-lever is actuated by striking a buttonmarked with the letter corresponding to the type on the type-bar andtransmitting the motion of the key-lever by means of a connecting-wireto the type-bar, causing it to present the letter thereon to a commoncenter or printing-point; and the object of the invention is, to enlargeand increase the type system of machines of this class withoutincreasing the number of keys and key-lever connections.

To this end my invention consists in combining with the movablepaper-carriage a horizontally-movable frame or carriage oarrying theseries of swinging type-bars, each of which is provided with two or moretype, so that by moving the frame the type-bars and their pivots may be.shifted so that the bars will present oneor another of their series oftype at the printing-point as may be demanded.

It consists also in the detail, construction, and arrangement of theparts, as hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out inthe claims.

In specifying my invention reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts.

Figure l is a plan view of my improved type-writer with the upper partof the machine removed, showing the arrangement of the key-levers andconnecting-wires for the type-harsh Fig. 2 is an enlarged detacheddetail of one of the type-bars, showing the construction and arrangementof the same. Fig. 3 is a face or front view of the same. Fig. 4 is anenlarged detached view of the type-head of the type-bar shown in Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a top plan of the upper part of the machine, illustrating thetype-basket mounted upon its adjustable support, showing the levers forshifting the support back and forth, the different positions of thesupport, and the typebasket being dotted in. Fig. 6 is a sectional Viewtaken on line w as, Fig. 5, illustrating the support for the type-basketand the shifting mechanism and its connections. Fig. 7 is a transversesection taken on line 'y y, Fig. 8, showing the construction andarrangement of the type-basket support and the normal position of theshifting-lever. Fig. 8 is a front View of the type system and itsadjustable support, illustrating the oppositelyacting springs mounted onthe actuatingshafts. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the type-head in itsdifferent positions in relation to the platen, the full lines showingthe normal position and the dotted lines the position when shifted; andFig. 10 is an enlarged detached bottom plan and side view, respectively,of the springseat for the end of the key-levers, the side view beingpartly in section.

A is the top plate of a type-Writer, upon which is mounted the carriageand platen in the usual manner common to type-writers of this class. Inthe top plate I provide bearings a a, Fig. 6,1ugs b b, rabbets or slidesc c, and side flanges (Z (Z. The top plate is preferably cast with theparts mentioned formed integral therewith. The slides a 0 form ways intowhich the supporting-frame I, Figs. 5, 6,

7, and 8, is movably seated, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

B is the base of the machine, having lugs e c, Fig. 7, cast therewith,for the purpose of attaching the spring-seats of the key-levers,

hereinafter described.- The key-levers are F F are the keys on oppositesides of the key-board, to which the connecting-rods of the shiftingmechanism are attached, and the said keys serve to actuate the same whenthey are depressed by the operator.

G G are the connecting-wires attached, re

itters spectively, to the key-levers and to the typebars.

The type-bars are denoted by H, and are constructed as best shown inFig.2, being provided in the end next to the pivot with a slot h and thetype-head N on the opposite extremity. The type-bars H are pivoted inthe type-basket, as shown in Figs. 5, 7, and 8, and strike to a commoncenter or printingpoint of the machine.

I is the horizontally-adjustable support for the type-basket, and ismounted in the rabbeted slides a c of the top plate A, as best shown inFigs. 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings. The support I is provided with acircular opening, in the periphery of which is mounted the type-basketconsisting of a series of type-bars H, pivoted or hung peripherallyaround the circular opening in I and of suitable length to strike to acommon center or printing-point, in the well-known manner common totype-writers of this class, the typebars being connected with theconnectingwires G G, hooked into the slots h of the typebar. Theadjustable support I has slots i 2', Fig. 7, in its opposite sides andshafts J J, carrying arms or cranks L, Figs. 7 and 8, lying loosely inthe slot 1', and a crank-arm K, formed on the opposite end of the shaftsJ and connected to the shifting-keys F by connecting-wires, serves toshift the movable sup port I and the type-basket rectilineally at rightangles to the printing-line of the machine.

It will be understood that in this as in other machines of thischaracter the line of printing, as represented upon the paper on whichimpressions are received,extends transversely of the machine, and theprinting-point'herein referred to 'is a central point upon this line, atwhich all of the type-faces are gaged to strike accurately when actuatedby their respective keys. To bring either of the difierent varieties oftype upon the type-bars into position to strike at this commonprintingpoint, the frame on which they are hung is shifted, asdescribed, longitudinally of the machine at right angles to what isherein designated as the line of printing; but it will be, of course,understood that the printingpoint, or point at which the impressions arereceived, never changes, the type-bars being "so hung and gaged that thy always strike at this point, though by the shifting of their frame theparticular type-face which is desired for use is brought into positionfor striking at the common point of impression.

It is to be observed that the shafts J J and their crank-arms K K arereversely arranged, as best shown in Fig. 5, so that when the righthandcrank K and its shaft J, Fig. 5, is actuated by the right-handshifting-key F the support I is moved forward, and when the oppositeshaft J and its crank K is operated by the left-hand shifting-key thesupportI moves rearward toward the operator. The movement of thetype-basket support I is graduated to correspond to the distance betweenthe types 1, 2, and 3, secured in line with each other upon thetype-head N, Fig. 4, so that when it is desired to shift the type systemthe support I is moved sufiiciently in either dorection, according asthe right or left hand shifting-key F is operated to bring either thetype system 3 or 2 to a common printing center, it being understood thatthe platen P of the machine is axially arranged over the commonprinting-point of the machine and is fixed in that position when thetype-writer is operated.

In order to graduate or limit the horizontal movement of the support Iin either direction, so as to secure the proper position of each typesystem when the support is shifted, I provide the adj usting-screws f ff f, which pass through the flanges d d and form stops, as

shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, and accomplish this desirableresult.

Upon the reversely-arranged shafts J, I mount spiral springs J J, Figs.5 and 8, which torsion the shafts J J and serve to assist the return ofthe movable support I to its normal position, where it may be locked byany suitable locking device, which is released upon the depression ofthe shifting-keys F F, hereinbefore referred to. The action of thesprings J J is against each other, as will be observed upon reference tothe drawings, so that while the tension of one increases the tensionupon the other is released and the return of the movable support I isgreatly facilitated.

No particular device for locking the shifting-frame I in position isherein shown, as many such devices are well known in mechanics, and itforms no part of my present invention.

As the type-bars are pivoted in a circle about the opening in theirsupporting-frame and are connected by wires with the actuatingkey-levers, it will be evident that if these key-levers are of the samelength and the connecting-wires joined to them at different distancesfrom their pivotal points (as is rendered necessary by the circulararrange ment of the type-bars) the leverage and consequent extent ofmovement given to the key-levers would vary considerably; and to obviatethis I construct the key-levers, as in Figs. 1 and 7, of various lengthsand pivot them in the base of the machine at regular distances from theimpression-point. This Will be best seen in Fig. 1, and it will beobserved therein that the pivotal points of the levers and the points oftheir connection with the wires actuating the type-bars form the twoellipses therein shown, and the movement of the type-bars and theirshifting-frame is compensated for by the slots h in the typebars, asshown in Fig. 2, so that this shifting is readily admitted without anydisturbance of the key-levers or their connecting-wires, which operateequally well with the type-bars in either position.

' embraces the curved projection G of C, and

Onreference to the drawings it will be seen that in my machine thekey-levers, instead of having a common axis or being mounted oncoincident axes, as usual, have their pivots arranged out of line witheach other, and that the distancebetween the pivot of the key-lever andthe point of attachment of the wire is substantially the same in allthelevers.

The key-levers O are arranged in close proximity to each otherin thebase of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, and the rear ends of the leversC are provided with the curved projection O,as best shown in theenlarged side view, Fig. 10. A double-acting spring secured to the lugs6, same figure, bears at d on the under side of the levers C, and at 01this spring forms a pivotal spring-seat D. The lever C is thusyieldingly'pivoted in the base of the machine, and the function of thespring-seat D is to return or to quicken the return of the key-levers totheir normal position after having been depressed for the purpose ofoperating the type-bars connected to the said levers.

It will be understood that the return of the key-levers O is partiallyby gravity of the type-bar, the weight of which overcomes that of thekey, and partially by the action of the spring pivot-seat D, whichgreatly quickens the action of the lever, as will be readily seen.

The type-bar, as has been previously explained, has arranged npon'thetype-head N, preferably, three styles of type, and the line of the headis at right angles with the printing-line, and the type buttons or keysM are provided with characters corresponding to the same styles of type.Hence any one of the styles of type carried by the type-head N is struckfrom the same type-button. Hence when the machine is operated bydepressing the button M the type-bar with its type is caused to vibrateon its pivot toward the center of the circle upon which it is hung, andupon reaching the center imprints the letter through an inking-ribbon tothe paper supported on the carriage.

When it is desired to shift the type system, so as to bring a new fieldinto action, either of the shifting-keys, according to whether therighthand or left-hand keys 'are actuated when depressed, causes theshaft J through the medium of the connecting-wire, torotate, and motionis communicated to the type system, and the support I is moved at rightangles to the line of the platen P, where it is temporarily locked byany suitable device, and thus the desired system or field of type is inplace to be brought into operation. Now since the movement of the entiresystem corresponds to the distance apart of the type arranged on thetype-head N, it must necessarily follow that either the types 2 or' 3are brought to the printing-point, as is best illustrated in the diagramview Fig. 9, the letter 00 denoting the printing-point on the platen Pand the dotted lines showing the position of the typehead when shiftedeither to the right or left.

After the shifting-key has been depressed to shift the type system intoa new field, as described, the operator by actuating the same type-keyutilizes the new type-field, and by releasing the shifting-key thesupport and type system mounted therein is retracted to its normalposition, when by simply depressing the opposite shifting-key the typesystem is again changed and the remaining field brought into operation.The shifting-keys may be depressed by the operator, using his finger forthat purpose and holding the same in its depressed position while usingthe new field of type, or any of the knee-shifts common to the art maybe used for the purpose of depressing the key-button and holding it inposition.

My invention is not limited to any precise construction of the movableframe which sustains the type-bars, nor to any particular constructionand arrangement of the devices for shifting the same. The details may bemodified at will, provided a mode of action essentially such as hereindescribed is secured. By the expression different styles of type asherein employed I mean type of different patterns or different fonts orupper andlower case letters of the same font.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a type-writer, a movable frame or support formed with a circularopening and a series of type-bars each provided with two or moretype-faces and hinged around the periphery of the circular opening inthe movable frame, in combination with the main frame of the machine,and means, substantially as described, for shifting the type-framelongitudinally to bring either of the various type-faces into positionfor striking at the common printing-point, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. A horizontally-sliding frame carrying a series of pivoted type-arms,in combination with a paper-carrying carriage which moves in a directionat right'angles to the direction of movement of said sliding frame, andmechanism for moving said sliding frame, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the sliding frame, the type-arms mounted thereon,a spring for returning the frame, a rock-shaft having an arm foroperating the frame, and mechanism IOC for operating the rock-shaft,substantially as described. V.

4.. The combination, in a type-writer, of a movable type-system frame orsupport I, top plate A, provided with the bearing a, the crank-shaft J,having crank-arms K L, one of said arms L engaging the slot 1' in thesupport I and the other arm K connected to a shifting-key F, and theshaft J, provided with a spiral spring J, all substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

5. In a type-writer, a series of parallel finger-key levers, havingtheir axes arranged in an elliptic line, in combination with a circularseries of type-arms and wires connecting the respective arms and levers,said wires connected to the levers at substantially uniform distancesfrom their pivots, whereby the resistance and the length of movement ofthe levers are equalized.

6. In a type-Writer, in combination with a key-lever O, the spring-seatpresenting the overturned portion d and the underlying portion d. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in theState of New York, this 18th day of October, 1886.

WILBUR S. SOUDDER. -Witnesses:-

FREDERICK H. GIBBS, E. O. CANNON.

